Ammunition supplying device for pairs of guns mounted in turrets or the like



'June 11, 1935. DAUM 2,004,856

AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF GUNS MOUNTED IN TURRETS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet l I I IVE/VTOR By z aw June 11, 1935 DAUM 2,004,856

AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF GUNS MOUNTED IN TURRETS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1953 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/VVENTOR mar/Mn June 11, 1935. 1.. DAUM AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF GUNS MOUNTED IN TURRETS OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 1933 June 11, 1935. L DA 2,004,856

AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF GUNS MOUNTED IN TURRETS OR THE LIKE Filed- Oct. 14, 193:5 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 II I I I K v y q .5 I I nvvEzvToR.

ATTORNEYS.

June 11, 1935. DAUM 2,004,856

' AMMUNITION SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR PAIRS OF GUNS MOUNTED IN TURRETS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 14, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR Patented June 1 1, 1935 1 ffPAiliRSlOF GUNS MOUNTEDQIN irrURRETs ORYTHELIKE ,t-L eon Damn, Paris;j'Franceg assignor of-oneehalf tofiompagniedesForges ct Acieries de la Ma-1 line, ct dflomecourt,

, liaris, France, a com- 'pany of -France, and one-halfoto Schneider &

.7 M e, I "14:Claims. lIdummy-applicationforlaUnited States patent efiledqzon 'July 244 1933, Serial No. 681,'980, there ids: described and; shownaa; devicefor simultaneously:supplying with ammunition two guns asso- 1 3-5 iciatedtforlsimultan'eousaiming in direction. Thedevice is characterized in principleby aframe llswiyellingl' in, acfixed support-"and supporting a- -receivingrmemberladapted to be'given a pivoting --lmovement,;-about"an; axis coinciding with the 310 =axis\ofqthectnunnions of the cradles of the-asso- 112G ted;;guns or parallelito. this latter axis. The .rammun-ition: hoisted in fixed conduits is, received in:sockets-provided in: the receiving member, the llframeewherein thecreceiving member is t pivotiinssuchmannerlthat the sockets form an extension,-1 Ofethe 'conduits serving for the hoisting of {the nt-munitions; :This operation completed, and

t theeammunitionrrybeing placedlin its receiving 20 v-soekets,wthesswivelling frame is moved to bring pthe :pivoting axis: of} .the meceiving; member into w-linei-withzor parallelijto the axisjof the trunnions -fr the g-associated gunsL Subsequent pivoting of 1 the (receiving --member, inside the frame, permits :25 l the sockets to be: broughtrintoa suitable position I ator the-l conveyance of the ammunition towards =a uitable'lloadingwdevicevby meanscf a conduit 1 rovid'edefor this purpose and arranged parallel to the symmetr-ical plane of; l the installation. 39. The; object of thepresentinvention isto jpromide;.a:;novel constructional arrangement of the -appara'tus #just referred to which is especially adapted for use in the caselof two associated qtg uns whichf are to be loaded with ammunition 35 q constituted; by separate elements, that isto say,

-byqa -projectile: separated: from its firing charge which m ay or may *notibe contained-in a can ,ltridge caseh QIHpbIiBf the constructional form hereinafter described and shown inthe' annexed n40 v--i-ic;l rawingipermits: two guns associated for simulaneousl'aiming in-direction to be supplied with ammunition s'COmpIiSing" separate elements, the

invention comprising the combination of the,

bly: mounted having been preliminarily rotated Qie, Ba'ris, France, a company cf'France Application: October 14,

, "In-France August 19,1933

(or, s9 45 1933, Serial No. 6533;654

of rotation of the turret, that is to say,.=on the line II- II of- Figure 1;

JFigure :3 is; a half plan view corresponding ;-.to Figure 1; 1

:Figures 4, 5,: 6,7, 8,9, and 10 show= in detailtl; .o-n alarger scal'e,the partof the device where xthevam munition is received-at its exit from the hoistJFigure 4 being a sectional elevation similar :to': that of Figure L Figure 5 i being aavievvssimilar to that of Figure: 2, Figures 6, l'l' -an'd 8i-'being ms'e'ctional plans respectively on' the "lines of Figure '5, and VII-'VII and VIII"VIII 'of Figure 4, and Figures!) and "10 f beingsectional elevations on the lines IX- IX- and X-X respectively of Figure '7 Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14show;a detail -ofa part of the device wherel the ammunition-con- -veyed from 1 its point 1 of receptionat 1i the top of 1 the hoist isi'brought in line with the axis of the :'gun, to be rammed into i position, 1 Figure 1 1 bee ing ankend'elevation view of the back of one of the associated firing pieces a and showing the membersin' the position which' they occupy in Figure 14, which is a" corresponding longitiidinal elevation f l 'i'gures lz and 13 being views simi- I lar to that of Figureh, the members being "shown in 'd-ifierent position; Figure" 15 is a p'a'rtial sectional: elevation on -a larger scale on the"- line XV-* XV1of Fig urei2; 1:and v Figures l6 l7 and 18 show separately in fr'ont view, back' view and plan; the pivoting -support to which is hinged the systemcf rearmostmovable i elements of the receiving conduits for the ammunition. I 1 1:35 In Figures 1, 2' and 3, l indicates the gu'ns mounted in' known: manner} in cradles 2. 7 "These cradles rest by their a trunnions 1 3 cm "mountings orocradle supports 4. a

To the-crad1e of each" of'the guns are fixeiiemfl iin'known manner and as ihtheexamplefli- .scribed. in application Serial No."681;980,'in=a'ddition to"the usual firing members, two longitudinal I members-5 which at the rear support the loading device; l V

It is presumed, by way of example,"that each gun comprises a horizontal wedge-' breech block. I "Arecesseemadein the breech block 1 (Figure .-1) allowsthe passage of the two portions=-of the ammunition when conveyed1fromthe wait- 50 ingposition to the loadi'ngnpositions'.

The cradle supports '4 -are,ain the example showng-fixed on a rotatable platform :8 which is -mounted on a fixed bearingl9 bylmeanseofaa,

.rolling and centering track. t

For aiming in elevation, the two cradles carrying the guns may be, for example, connected with a single aiming shaft l through the usual rack and pinion'elevating gear.

The platformB may support a shield N forming a firing chamber and an operating floor |2.

This floor comprises at the rear a hinged ele'- ment l3 adapted to be closed flat, which may be raised upright to enable the attendant manipulating the element of the conveyor device forming the loader to descend to the lower floor I4 for convenience of operation when loading at high angles of elevation.

The part of the device forming the ammunition receiving apparatus is arranged, as in the construction described in application Serial No. 681,980, along the vertical axis of rotation of the turret, between the two guns, opposite the mouth of the shaft of a fixed central hoist. l5. This hoist opens through an opening l6 provided in mthe centre of the platform 8. 1

The actual hoist may beof a known type ,witha reciprocating hoisting mechanism such as shown on the drawings; it comprises accord- .ing to the present embodiment of the invention, four tubes, two tubes I! intended for the projectiles, and two tubes |8 intended for the powder charge which may or may ..not be'contained in cartridge cases; in these four tubes the ammunition for the two guns ,is raised simultaneously, in order to. permit simultaneous firing by the two guns and at the same cadence.

: The ammunition receiving element of the apparatus is shown in detail in Figures 4 to 10. This apparatus comprises, as in the example tubes (Figures '7, 8), two tubes 2| intended for the projectiles, and two tubes 22 intended for ;,the -cartridge cases; these four tubes are connected and braced together by three mountings 2 3,124' and 25. The intermediate mounting 24 ,is provided with two horizontal trunnions 26 supported by the pivoting frame or support I9,

-1 suitable seats, the axis of which may be moved to coincide with the common axis of the trun- ;.nions of the cradles 2 by rotating frame |9 on gits'bearing 29. A fourth mounting 21 connects and stays the two tubes 22 at their upper part. On each of the two projectile-receiving tubes 2| of the rocking ammunition carrier are mounted two spring boxes 28 (Figures. 7' and 9) arranged symmetrically, and each comprising a spring 29 and a central rod 36 carrying a plunger 3! at its lower end. At their upper ends, the two rods 39 are connected together by a cross piece 32 (Figures 4 and 9), the middle of which is adapted to form anabutment socket for the ogive of the projectile. At the lower partof each tube 2| is pro- *vided' aretractable (or withdrawable) awl 33 rotatably movable on anaxis 34 and constantly returned into the position of Figure 8 by a tor- 'sion spring35 (Figure 4) E On eachof the two tubes 22 intended for the powder or cartridge cases there are mounted in a similar manner two'spring boxes 36 (Figures trunnions of the gun cradles.

7 and each comprising a spring 31 and a central rod 38 carrying a plunger 39. A cross piece 40 connects the upper part of the two rods 38; its middle is arranged to form a kindof plate serving as a support for the upper'part of the cartridge case. At the lower part 01 each tube 22 is arranged a retractable (or etfaceable) pawl 4| (Figures 4 and 8 rotatably movable on an axis 42 and constantly drawn into the position of Figure 8 by a torsion spring 43 (Figure 4).

The part of the apparatus forming the ammunition receiving device which has just been described may be operated by an attendant installed in the front between the two guns, on the floor (Figure 1).

The above described devices render it possible to supply the two guns of the turret with ammunition under the following conditions:

On the starting of the actual hoist, the receiving device is first swivelled in direction so that the tubes 2| and 22 of the rocking ammunition carrier, which are then situated vertically, are respectively in line with the hoist tubes l1 and I8 of the hoist. The pivoting support I9 is then locked to the fixed shaft i5 in any suitable mantheir travel the tubes 2| and 22, moving the pawls 33 and 4| out of the way. The points of the projectiles and the upper parts of the cartridge cases abut respectively against the cross pieces 32 and 49 of the draw-rods of the spring boxes which, when thecarrierwasempty, were at the broken line positions (0) and (11) indicated in Figures 9 and 10, the springs being relaxed. The projectiles and the cartridge cases continuing their movement, raise the cross pieces 32 and 40, compressing the springs 29 and 31, up to the moment when the projectiles and cartridge'cases have penetrated completely into the sockets'of the carrier. The pawls 33' and 4| then engage underneath the projectiles and cartridge cases, thereby causing the hoist to stop, forexample due to the operation of a limit switch.

The receiving apparatus beingcharged, is then swivelled according to the actual position of the turret, so that the pivots of the rocking ammunition carrier are brought into line with the When in this position, the pivoting support |9 of the apparatus .may be locked on' the platform 8 by means of a locking device not shown.

The ammunition carrier 2|, 22 is then rocked until the axes of its sockets are in line with the axes of channels or gutters 49 and 50 carried for each gun, by an arm 5' integral with the cradle.

As this movement is completed each of pawls longer held by the corresponding pawls, are thenforced to the rearby cross pieizes 32 and 40 due to the release of the spring devices 29, 30, 3|, and 31, 38, 39.

As will beseen, the part of the receiving and conveying device which has just been described is an adaptation or modification of the corresponding device of application Serial No.,681,98 for the case in which the ammunition is, for each gun, constituted by two separate elements such as a projectile and a cartridge case providwhich 1 :f'andcan, by ajthru'st'in the desired direction, causev it to pass'directly from-theiposition of Figures-13 toithefwaitingposition of Figure 11', where the during the-irecoill and the returnof the gun to the;

1. p V ,hOiSl'r adapted. to delivera pair of projectiles and I't will be understood that the complete installarltion for a pair of guns comprises a second receiv-l. 1':z10.-.ing. device. similarito that just/described but acated symmetrically with respect to the longi-;

tudinal axial plane of the system of associated awfiring position,

:gmmy. I I r .i As will be seen, the particular constructional modification'of the invention of the parent'ap- 3 supplying two associatedguns'rapidly and simultaneously withainmunition composed. of separate'elements(projectile and cartridge case, for exarriple); this resultbeingobtained by a system i J of swivelling and rocking receiving elements sim- "'ilar. to that of application Serial No. 681,980, but

1 comprising fourcompartments, the said swivelling and rocking :elements beingcombined with the I *superposedreceiving conduits, each respectively 1 taking ammunition e1ement's;'and each of these conduits, instead of being continuous as in the *constructional formdescribed in application Serial No.-. 681,980,' comprises at its extreme rear end an. oscillating element constructed in the form of a loadingdevicearranged to be operated by 'hand by an attendant who-brings it successively-1 from'a receiving position of rest to a position for loading a projectile, and thento aposition for 5' loadingthe propelling charge, contained or not contained in a cartridge case, and finally bring- I ing the said oscillatingielement to its initial re- 1 ceiving position.

.The'; practical means of constructing the os-- 40 cillating element of the ammunition receiving a "mechanism; and-the conjunction of this element with the usual rammer, may, of course, be 'car- Liried out-in various ways, the annexed drawings:

. merely showing a'preferredo arrangement and zbeing:v intended for purposes of illustration only.

--'The"whole apparatus for receiving and transniitting elements of ammunition for two associated guns, as just described, may,.of course, be

provided with suitable safety devices preventing "any untimelylmanipulation';

I Various'other changes, which will now appearto those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of'the parts without'departing from the spirit "so rotatable twin'g'un mount ammunition of the type inwhich the projectile and propellingcharge- "are separate, the combination of {a fixed main hoist adapted to deliver a pair of projectiles and v a pair of propelling chargessimultaneously to a '65 point between the guns, a member mounted.

above said hoist having four compartments symmetrically arranged in'pairseach pairof compartments' being adapted to receive from said hoist andjto retain'a projectile and a propelling charge, respectively, a pairof superposed ammuj nition trays associated with each of said guns,

means for simultaneously transferring the projectiles and propelling charges from said compartments to said trays, and means for succes-,

sively-movingthe projectile and charge deliv-' a pair or propelling charges *simultaneouslyito a point: between the guns; a member 1 mounted above said hoist having :four'compartmnts symmetrically arranged in'pairs, each'pair of'coinpartments being adapted to receive from said hoist and to oretain'a; projectile and a propelling charge, respectively; .apair of superposed amm'unition trays associated'with each: of said guns,-

each of said trays comprising one portion" fixed with respect to'its: associated: gunvand another neously: transferring the projectiles and-the pro-- hoist adapted todel'i'ver apair of projectiles a'nd a pair of propelling charges simultaneously to'a point between theguns, a member mounted above said hoist having fourcompartments symmetrically arranged in' pairs, each pair-ofcompart- 'ments being adapted to-receive from said 'hoist' and to retain a projectile and'a propellingcharge, respectively, a pair of superposed ammunition trayS associated with each'bf said' guns, each of for "moving the pivotally mounted portions of each'pair of trays about" their axis to bring them successively into loading position in alinemnt with the bore of the associated gun." j F1115 4-. In apparatus for supplying to the guns 'of a rotatable'twi'n gunmount'a munition "or the type in which the projectile and propelling charge are separate the combination of'a' fixedmain hoist adapted to deliver a pair of projectiles and a pair of propelling 'charges simultaneouslyto a point between the guns, a member mounted above said hoist having four com'partrrrents'syr nmetrically arranged inpairs, each 'pairof'compartments being adapted to" receive fro'ni' said hoist and to retain a projectile and a propelling charge, respectively, a pairof superposed afnmu nition trays associated with each of said' guns, each of said trays comprising one portion fixed with respect --to its associated; gunand another portion mountedyfor. compound pivotal. movement with respect to a pluralityofaxes parallel to the bore thereon; meansfor simultaneously transferring the projectiles and propelling charges from, said compartmentsto saidtrays, and meansfor moving the ,pivotallymounted portions of eachpair ofjtrays about theirfaxes; to

bring vthem, successively into 'loading position'in alinement with the boreof the associated gun, q

5 In apparatus for supplying to the, guns; j. of arotatable twin gun mount ammunition of the type in" which the' projectile and propelling" tilesLi-anduaapair' .oi': propelling charges "simultaneously-to a, point between thenguns,""a member: 5: mounted sabove saidfi hoist having four compar'tments for receiving "difreta'ninglthe ammuni= tionwdeliv eredfiby' Sald hiSt- Hisai' framefer rotation "about fa :Ivertical' akiis p sition paralleli t with respect to each f said guns and adapted to pelli'ng charge from "sa 'imember" when the latter is tilted' "about? horizontal axis; a pair of f Ioadih'g traYs normally positioned' in extension in positions such that the 'p'i'oj ectiles and pro- Y pelling charges may'beloaded therefrom into the guns mp'roper order; "61 111 2; apparatus Jfo a rotatable "tvvin gu mount ammunitioniof the typein whichthe prbie'ctile' andlpropelling charge a1 ewseparate; :the'combination (of a fixed main hoi'sta'a'dapted'to"deliver a pair: of projectiles and a pain of propellingi eharges simultaneously to arpoint between theigunat a member mounted above saidhoist having four compartments for ss receiving and retaining: the f; ammunition deliv eredl by said hoist; a frame in which said mem ber ismivotedfifor movement about (a horizontal? axi's,i' means ssforiij'swivelly r'nountingl said; frame l for: rotation :about: .a vertical 7 axis whereby said 40w horizontal: axis may; be moved -to a position) par allel to the trunnion axes of said guns a pair of superposed ammunition receiving trays fixed with;

resinectwtd' eachwofrsaid guns and adaptedgtoi simultaneously receiveza projectile' and atpro-x pelliiigrl'cha rge "frbma said member when-the 'lat-.

tert-isr'tiltede about said horizontalaxis, 'a' pair. of loading ,atraysnormally-positioned in extension ofi=each of said 'pair ofreceiving trays and adapted:toreceive a projectile andva propellingnharge therefromgeach-pair ofrcjsaid loading trays being pivotallylimounted' fofn movement about anaxis parallelnto: the g'boret50fn thea associated: gun, and 2 means for moving said loading traysiabout their axes soa'suto: bring the -tr aysof each pair-succes- 1 -sively intoyalin ementitwith the'bore of the-associa-ted gun: inpositionsrsuch that the projectiles:

and propelling:charges maylbe loaded therefrom intoethe gunsvimproper order; {1; In: apparatus rfor supplying tothe guns of w a "rotatable-twin gun mount "ammunition of the type which the projectile and propelling charge are separate, the combination -0f -a nfixed main hoist adapted to deliver a pair of; projectiles and horizontal axis may be moved to a position par alljel' tothe trunnionf'axesfof said guns, a. pair of. superp e ammunition. receiving trays fixed f j 'i 1111" which Voted. for movement about a W loading trays being mounted for compound piv hor ontar ill axis, means for swivell'y mounting otal m'bvem entiwith respeot to a plurality a upplying the guns of fm ve iibi m n? "ri in 1 iabout an axis"substantiallylparallel Ito tli ivithi'espectto' each of said guns and adaptedto" simultaneously receive a' projectile andija 1 pro pelling charge' fromv said member when the lat ter isi tilted about said horizontal axis, a pairu ofr loading trays normally positioned in exten- 1 sion' fof-f eaeh 'ioffjsaid pain of receivingfi trays v 5 and adapted to receive a projectile and pro pellingQ-charge therefrom,- each pair of"sai axes parallel to one another and to the bore o '10 the associated-- gun; andyineans'ifor movirig each pair 'of loading trays-'about its axes' tobring the projectile and: chargeontaining trays thereofuccessivelyimo a mement wan: the bore; r me 1 assoc'iatedj"gunf in positions such that th pro therefrom into 'the gun in propr' order. L1 '8 In apparatus for supplying a gun; wit ammunitio' of lthe typei -which theprojecting u:

i f hirge T ria 'ath T OmbinatiOK-ZO' mean controlled-by themovements of sa r H argeareflseparatepthe oomi of'afpa-ir' of loading trays nonn allyjlate trays 'ai'id a propelling: charge to theoth r"; rhea s for 'rnountirig sai'd' traysfor rn'oveme'n a la transvers e to the axis Of thiibor g mefifiellyy r hl eai s ar .mbv e i e dltr ta loring the projectile and propelling 'phar'geis1;

cessively into 1 position 1n ,al ne it merit with the bore thereof, meansio mo H g said ramme'rQinto' alinement with"thef'projectile' and bore of saidjgunwhensaid trays are moved to projectile loading, positon, and meanscontrolled by the movements ,of; said Lrammer ..for 0 locking? said jtrays projectile loading position L re t s sup n a s w h emit munitioniof the .type in whichtheprojectile and! ro elling oha 6"are separatfipthe, combination; of a fused h i t. f i iverins.v a ro ti a 05 a propelling"charge'ioqa point adjacentthe gun, 1m m er"me n a i aid hoist havin a; pairof compartments adapted to' receive", from; said 'hois t and to. retain said prOJ'Qtile' -and, said fpr'opellifig charge, respeotivelyj means forlipivotallyfl mountingf fsaid memberQfor j movement. V

and. said propelling charge to the other when said, member has been rotated about its axistoapositioni wherein said compartments are in alignment with said trays, a 'supportingmember' pivotally mounted at one 'end for movement about an axis fixed withrespect to said gun and parallel to the axis of the bore thereof, the other end of said, member being pivotally connected to said rigidly connected trays, means for movingv said trays and supporting member about said fixed axis, :and' means operative during said movement to move saidtrays relatively to said supporting member aboutthe pivotal'connection' therewith, whereby the projectile and propelling charge may be successively brought into loading position inralinement with the bore of said gun.

11.; In; apparatus for supplying a gun with ammunition of the type'in which the projectile and propelling charge are separate, the combination of a fixedhoist for delivering a projectile and a propelling charge to 'a pointadjacent the gun,

a member mounted-above said hoist having a pair of compartmentsadapted to receive from said hoist and toretain said projectile and said propelling charge, respectively, means for pivotally mounting said member for movement about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the trunnions of thegun, a pair ,ofrigidly connected loading trays normally laterally displaced fromthe axis ofthe bore of the gun,

means for transferring said projectile to one; of, said trays and said propelling charge to the other when said member has been rotated about its axis toa position wherein said compartments arein alignment with said trays, a supporting member pivotally mounted at one end for movement about an axis'fixed with-respect-, tolsaid' gun, and parallel to the axis of the bore thereof,

the other end ofsaid member being, pivotally connected tosaid rigidly connected trays, means for movingsaid traysand-supporting member' about said fixed axis, means operative during said movement to move said trays relatively tosaid supporting member aboutthe pivotal connection -therewith, whereby-the projectile and propelling-charge may be successively brought into loading position in alinement with the bore ,pair of compartments adapted to receive from said hoist and to. retain said projectile and said propelling charge, respectively, means for pivotally mounting said .member for movement about an axis substantially parallel to'theaxis .of' the trunnions of the gun, a pair of rigidly connected loading trays normally laterally displaced from the axis-of the. bore of the gun, means for transferring said. projectile to one of said trays and said propelling charge to the other-when said member has beenrotated about 'itsaxis to a position wherein said compartments are in alignment with said trays,- a supporting member pivotally mounted .at one end for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said gun and .paralleltothe axis ofthe boregthereof, the other transferring said projectile to'ione of said trays end of said member being pivotally connected to" saidvrigidlytconnected trays, manually'operable' means for moving said trays and supporting member about said fixed axis, means operative,

during said movement to move said trays rela=;

'tively, to saidsupporting member about the piv otal connection therewith, whereby the projectile '2 and propelling charge, may be successively; I brought into loading position in alinement with-J the bore of said gun, and means associated-with:

said manually operable means for locking said.

supporting member against movement when said trays are in, normal ammunitionreceiving position and in the loading position, wherein the pro;-

pelling charge is in alinement with said bore.

l 13. In apparatus for supplying a gun with am:

munition of the type in which the projectile andye propelling charge are separate, the combination 1 of a fixed hoist for delivering a projectileijand; a propelling'charge to a point'adjacent'the gun;

a member mounted abovesaid hoist having; a; pair of compartments adapted to receive-.fromw? said hoist and to retain said projectile and: said; propelling charge, respectively, means forvpivotally mounting said member for'movement about an axis substantially parallel to the axis- 3 of the'trunnions of the'gun, a pairof rigidly'connected loadingtrays normally laterally displaced transferring said projectile to'one of'saidtrays 'from the axis ofthe bore of the gun, means'for and said propelling charge to the otherwhens'aid: 1 member has been rotated about its axis to a 'po- Y sition wherein said compartments are'in alignment with said trays, asupporting member piv-' otally mounted atone end for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said gun and parallel to the axis of the bore thereof, the other end of said member being pivotally connected. to'

said rigidly connected trays, means for moving said trays and supporting member about said fixed axis, means operative during said movement tofmove said trays relatively to said supporting 'member about the pivotal connection therewith,

whereby the projectile and propelling charge 1 may be successively brought into loading position" in' alinement with the bore of said gun, a'ram-.

mer carried by said gun'and normally positioned out of alinement with the borethereof, and means carried'by said supporting member for engaging and moving said rammer into alinement with the projectile and'bore of said gun when said trays and supporting inemberare moved to projectile loading position. v

14. In apparatus for supplying a gun with ammunition of the type in which the projectile and propelling charge are separate, the combination of a pair of rigidly connected loading trays normally laterally displaced from the axis of the bore a of the gun, means for delivering a projectile to one of said trays and a propelling charge to the other, a supporting member pivotally mounted at one end for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said gun and parallel to the axis of the bore thereof, the other end of said member'being pivotally connected to said rigi dlylconnected trays, means formoving said trays anc lsupport'- ing member about said fixed axis, meansoperative, during saidmovement to move said trays relatively to said supporting member about the 'pivotalconnection therewith, whereby the projectile and propelling charge may be successively brought into loading position in alinement with the bore of said gun, a rammer carried byvsaid gun and normally positioned out of alinement with the borethereof, means carried by said supporting member for engaging and moving said rammer into alinement with the projectile and bore of said gun when said trays and supporting 1 5 member are moved to projectile loading position,

ing member against movement when said trays are in projectile loading position.

- LEON DAUM. 

